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Hospital parking fees slammed

Campaigners have issued a fresh call for car parking charges at hospitals to be scrapped.
They say it places an 'unfair' pressure on people already suffering with illness.
Birmingham Women's NHS Trust charges patients and visitors £2.70 an hour.

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Campaigners in the Midlands have issued a fresh call for parking charges at hospitals to be scrapped, claiming it is 'unfair' to place an extra burden on people and families already suffering with illness.

A report by the Health and Social Care Information Centre reveals the average cost of parking at a hospital is £1.15 per hour - but some, including Midland hospitals, charge much more than this.

Birmingham Women's NHS Foundation Trust charges £2.70 per hour.

It comes after Coventry University Hospital lifted a cap on the amount of money it could demand from people for parking earlier this year.

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There's anger tonight after it emerged that patients with chronic conditions could be paying more for parking after a Midlands hospital lifted a one hundred and fifty pound cap on charges for frequent visitors.

Patients and campaigners say it's unacceptable that the most vulnerable are being targeted once again but hospital bosses have defended their decision blaming the tough financial climate. Michael Sibert has the story.

Charges hit patients hard – particularly elderly people or those who are vulnerable and unable to use public transport. Also affected will be those with chronic conditions that mean they go to hospital regularly. It’s the last thing patients, relatives and carers need.

The Coventry North East MP Bob Ainsworth has said the removal of the cap on parking charges at Coventry University Hospital is unacceptable. He says the Chairman of the hospital has agreed to meet him next week to discuss it and he hopes that the cap will be reinstated.